System and method for managing and controlling a robot competition

Abstract

A system and method for operating robots in a robot competition. One embodiment of the system may include operator interfaces, where each operator interface is operable to control movement of a respective robot. A respective operator interface may be in communication with an associated operator radio, where each radio may have a low power RF output signal. A robot controller may be coupled to each robot in the robot competition. A robot radio may be coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and operator radio. The robot radios may have a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective operator radios. Alternatively, the radios may be short range radios, where a distance of communication may be a maximum of approximately 500 feet.

We claim:  
     
       1. A system for operating robots in a robot competition, said system comprising: 
       a plurality of operator interfaces, each operator interface being operable to control movement of a respective robot;  
       a first plurality of radios, each radio being in communication with a respective operator interface, and having a low power RF output signal;  
       a plurality of robots;  
       a plurality of robot controllers, each robot controller coupled to a respective robot; and  
       a second plurality of radios, each second radio coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and first radio, and having a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective first radios.  
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the low power RF output signal is a maximum of approximately 0.25 watts. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of radios have a maximum communication range of approximately 500 feet. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of radios are substantially the same. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second radios operate in full duplex. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second radios communicate on an RS-422 communication standard. 
     
     
       7. A system for operating robots in a robot competition, said system comprising: 
       a plurality of operator interfaces, each operator interface being operable to control movement of a respective robot;  
       a first plurality of radios, each radio being in communication with a respective operator interface, and having a short communication range;  
       a plurality of robots;  
       a plurality of robot controllers, each robot controller coupled to a respective robot; and  
       a second plurality of radios, each second radio coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and first radio, and having a short communication range.  
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first radios have low power RF output signal of a maximum of approximately 0.25 watts. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the short communication range is a maximum of approximately 500 feet. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first plurality of radios are substantially the same. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second radios operate in full duplex. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second radios communicate on an RS-422 communication standard. 
     
     
       13. A system for controlling a robot competition having a plurality of robots engaged therein, said system comprising: 
       at least one arena controller operable to provide control of the robots;  
       a plurality of operator interfaces coupled to said at least one arena controller; and  
       a plurality of operator radios being in one-to-one correspondence with said plurality of operator interfaces and coupled thereto.  
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of operator radios operate on a separate channel as commanded by a corresponding arena controller. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one arena controller further provides control of said operator interfaces. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said operator radios are capable of communicating on channels restricted for tournament use. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the control includes at least one of the following: 
       enabling and disabling of the robots, and  
       allocating of a channel.  
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of robot controllers operable to control a corresponding robot, each robot controller coupled to a robot radio to communicate with a corresponding operator radio. 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the robot controllers include a sweep means for sweeping the operator frequencies of the robot radios. 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a field controller coupled to said at least one arena controller. 
     
     
       21. The system according to  claim 20 , wherein said field controller is integrated with an arena controller. 
     
     
       22. The system according to  claim 20 , wherein said field controller allocates channels on which said operator radios communicate. 
     
     
       23. The system according to  claim 20 , wherein said field controller enables and disables said at least one arena controller. 
     
     
       24. A method for controlling a robot competition within an arena having a plurality of robots engaged in competition therein, said method comprising: 
       installing at least one device for engagement by contestants of the robot competition;  
       allocating, by the at least one device, a plurality of channels for communication of signals to the robots during the robot competition;  
       assigning a unique channel to each contestant engaging the at least one device; and  
       conducting the robot competition with the engaged contestants.  
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one device is an arena controller. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein control of the robot is selectively enabled and disabled via the at least one device. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said assigning includes: 
       sweeping the plurality of channels by a robot;  
       identifying the control signal; and  
       locking to the unique channel.  
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of channels are restricted for tournament use. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 28 , wherein a password is utilized to provide access to the restricted channels. 
     
     
       30. A system for providing dual-mode communication between an operator and a robot, said system comprising: 
       at least one operator interface having at least two communication ports, a first operator interface operable by the operator for controlling movement of the robot;  
       a first radio, coupled to a first communication port of an operator interface, to communicate data on a channel;  
       a second radio, mechanically coupled to the robot, for communicating with said first radio;  
       a robot controller mechanically coupled to the robot, said robot controller having at least two communication ports for receiving the data to control the robot, said second radio being coupled to a first communication port of said robot controller, a second communication port of said robot controller being operable to receive the data from said operator interface via a tether connection.  
     
     
       31. The system according to  claim 30 , wherein transmit power of at least one of said first and second radios is disabled during the tether connection. 
     
     
       32. The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the cable is conductive or optical. 
     
     
       33. The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the tether connection includes coupling a tether cable between a second communication port of the operator interface and the second communication port of said robot controller. 
     
     
       34. A method for determining a channel of communication between an operator interface and a remote control device, the operator interface and remote control device having associated device numbers, said method comprising: 
       assigning the channel to the operator interface;  
       transmitting a signal on a first channel, the signal including a device number, channel number, and checksum;  
       selecting, by the remote control device, a second channel to receive the signal;  
       receiving the signal including the device number, channel number, and checksum;  
       verifying the checksum to confirm integrity of the signal;  
       determining if the second channel and the channel number match; and  
       determining if the transmitted device number corresponds to the device number of the remote control device.  
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising locking the channel of the remote control device. 
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the remote control device is a robot. 
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the determining of the channel occurs during a robot competition. 
     
     
       38. The method according to  claim 34 , wherein each of the device number, channel number, and checksum are transmitted in a single data packet. 
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising selecting a different channel if the second channel and channel number do not match. 
     
     
       40. A method for conducting a robot competition, said method comprising: 
       issuing to contestants of the robot competition a plurality of radios being low range, commercially available, and substantially the same, the radios being operable receive data to control movement of respective robots;  
       entering the contestants to participate in the robot competition; and  
       coordinating individual matches during the robot competition.  
     
     
       41. The method according to  claim 40 , further issuing operator interfaces. 
     
     
       42. The method according to  claim 40 , further issuing robot controllers. 
     
     
       43. The method according to  claim 40 , wherein each of the radios has a maximum radio frequency power of 0.25 watts. 
     
     
       44. The method according to  claim 40 , wherein each of the radios has a maximum communication of approximately 500 feet. 
     
     
       45. The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said issuing includes selling the radios to contestants of the robot competition. 
     
     
       46. The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said entering includes registering contestants prior to participating in the robot competition. 
     
     
       47. The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said coordinating includes regulating operation of the sets of operator interfaces and radios. 
     
     
       48. The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the regulating includes assigning a unique operating channel to each radio. 
     
     
       49. The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the regulating includes starting and stopping the individual matches substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
       50. A method for conducting a robot competition, said method comprising: 
       issuing to contestants of the robot competition a plurality of radios and operator interfaces, the radios being commercially available, and substantially the same, the radios being operable to receive data to control movement of respective robots;  
       entering the contestants to participate in the robot competition; and  
       coordinating individual matches during the robot competition.  
     
     
       51. The method according to  claim 50 , further issuing robot controllers. 
     
     
       52. The method according to  claim 50 , wherein each of the radios has a maximum radio frequency power of 0.25 watts. 
     
     
       53. The method according to  claim 50 , wherein each of the radios has a maximum communication of approximately 500 feet. 
     
     
       54. The method according to  claim 50 , wherein said issuing includes selling the radios to contestants of the robot competition. 
     
     
       55. The method according to  claim 50 , wherein said entering includes registering contestants prior to participating in the robot competition. 
     
     
       56. The method according to  claim 50 , wherein said coordinating includes regulating operation of the sets of operator interfaces and radios. 
     
     
       57. The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the regulating includes assigning a unique operating channel to each radio. 
     
     
       58. The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the regulating includes starting and stopping the individual matches substantially simultaneously.